Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the Deh Gah School in Fort Providence, two recent graduates share a special connection. They made their journey from kindergarten to grade 12, to graduation, together. In fact, they started preschool together in an Aboriginal Head Start program in Fort Providence. We've talked about Aboriginal Head Start or AHS here, in the House, many times before, but, to give a brief history, Aboriginal Head Start is a federally funded program with a mandate to serve preschool-aged children, providing early intervention and early childhood education to foster spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and physical growth in Aboriginal children.
This initiative was first announced 21 years ago, in 1995. Since then, here, in the NWT, it's grown to serve more than 200 children each year in eight different communities. Aboriginal Head Start supports Aboriginal children specifically, helping them learn about their cultures and languages, prepare for school, work with parents, and live healthy lives.
In my riding of Deh Cho, Dezoah Undaa Etleh Koke is currently run by the Deh Gah Gotie Dene Council in Fort Providence. The graduates I mentioned a moment ago are alumni of this program. An AHS program also operates on the Hay River reserve.
Mr. Speaker, if it isn't already crystal clear, I'd like to emphasize to you how important this program is to Aboriginal children in the NWT. Every day the AHS program is delivered with these specific values in mind:
● Children are a gift from the creator who have the right to live proudly as Aboriginal people in the lands of their ancestors;
● Children have a right to learn their traditional Aboriginal languages and history;
● Children must develop meaningful relationships with elders and that elders' teachings will guide them throughout their lives;
● Children deserve opportunities to gain knowledge, have the right to enjoy the opportunities that education brings, and should be loved, valued, and encouraged in their education.
Mr. Speaker, this is quality programming Aboriginal children need, and it is quality programming that they deserve. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.